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The Board of Directors of the Canadian Society of Medical Evaluators (CSME) has undertaken the process of reviewing and revising the interim statement. CSME members have noted a significant, increasing trend in requests for recordings of IMEs and looked to CSME for guidance and leadership in this contentious area. The Board voted unanimously in support of the interim statement noted below:

“It is CSME’s position that the use of electronic recording is generally undesirable and unnecessary and creates a significant potential to invalidate the evaluation process.”

As such, CSME has undertaken to consult with interested parties to ascertain those circumstances that may pose reasonable exceptions to this general position 

The Board of Directors of the Canadian Society of Medical Evaluators (CSME) has completed its process of literature review, consultation with stakeholders and other parties through outreach research efforts and conference input on issues relevant to the recording of IMEs with the following findings:

1. There are no identified medical indications to record IMEs.
2. There are circumstances in which it may be prudent for the clinician to require the recording of an IME to protect the clinician from the potential for false allegations in relation to the examination.
3. The legal system is currently well equipped to deal with requests for and/or against recording IMEs and will continue to find a legally appropriate balance on a case-by-case basis.
4. There will be cases where the parties agree or where the Court orders that an IME be recorded.
5. Where an IME is recorded it is crucial that a medically/legally appropriate protocol is followed.

Therefore, with the benefit of literature review, community consultation and conference input, CSME has adopted the following position on recording IMEs:

• CSME has determined there are no medical indications to record IMEs.  
• CSME’s position is that the recording of IMEs is generally undesirable and unnecessary and creates a significant potential to invalidate the evaluation process.    
• However, given that there may be individual cases where an IME is recorded, CSME’s position is that any clinician who undertakes a recorded IME should have appropriate experience, training and/or expertise to do so.
• The IME clinician has the responsibility to end the recording, the IME, or both, if in the provider’s sole discretion the use of recording is compromising the examination.